Dickson, Howat lead Bangor shutout of Hawks

Maranacook goalie Tyler Plante (32) makes a pad save on a shot by Bangor forward Connor Griffin (4) in the second period of their game in Bangor on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012.

Michael C. York | BDN

Michael C. York | BDN

Maranacook senior Ian Palmer (20) plays the man on Bangor forward Wyatt Frost (20) in the offensive zone during the first period of their game in Bangor on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012.

Michael C. York | BDN

Michael C. York | BDN

Maranacook goalie Tyler Plante (32) focuses on the action as teammate Ian Palmer (20) works on Bangor forward Jordan Tracy (96) in the second period of their game in Bangor on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012.

The Rams have been working on getting the puck to the points and having the defensemen get off quick low shots. That resulted in Dickson’s first career two-goal game as Eastern Maine Class A points leader Bangor blanked Hall-Dale/Winthrop/Maranacook 5-0 at Sawyer Arena on Wednesday night.

Senior goalie Chris Howat made 18 saves to post his second shutout of the season and second in a row. He blanked Presque Isle 4-0 on Friday.

Bangor improved to 9-1 in winning its fourth straight game.

Hall-Dale/Winthrop/Maranacook, which was playing its first game since a 5-3 loss to St. Dom’s of Auburn on Jan. 14, fell to 6-4. The Hawks were third in the points entering the game.

The game was closer than the score indicated, although the Rams won most of the puck battles with their tenacity and superior speed. The hard-working Hawks did an admirable job hustling back to protect their net front but only tested Howat on a handful of occasions and he came up with the saves, including a few gems.

“I thought I played well. I felt good,” said the tall, rangy Howat. “The defense helped me out a lot. They kept them out of the middle of the ice where the prime scoring opportunities are. [H/W/M] has a hard-working team with some skilled players and they never give up.

“We played very well. We moved the puck well and opened up the ice,” said Howat.

“Bangor out-skated us the whole game,” said Hawks coach Andre Dube. “They’re faster than we are. They capitalized on their opportunities early, and we didn’t. That made a difference. The layoff hurt us. We were rusty. We didn’t pass well.”

Dube also praised Howat.

“He made some big saves. He covers a lot of net,” said Dube.

“Bangor has a great team,” said Hawks senior defenseman Jason Laporte, who hit the short side post off a faceoff late in the second period. “They have a lot of size and agility and they’re really fast. Speed kills in this game.”

Wyatt Frost and Jordan Tracy scored 6:14 apart in the first period to supply the Rams with a 2-0 lead.

Dickson scored a power-play goal 2:18 into the second period and converted on a four-on-four situation 2:56 later to extend the lead to 4-0. Parker Sanderson added a third-period goal.

One of those low, quick-release point shots from Dickson resulted in Frost’s game-winner 3:30 into the game.

“Cam did a great job tonight,” said Frost. “I got the puck back to him off the faceoff and got in front of the net. I got my stick on his shot and it went between the goalie’s [Tyler Plante] legs.”

It was Frost’s second goal of the season.

Freshman left wing Tracy scored off a feed from Zeb Tuell.

Tracy was alone in front of Plante with his back to goal when he took the pass from Tuell, wheeled and flipped a 10-foot backhander through the goalie’s pads for his third of the season.

“I just took a shot and it went through,” said Tracy.

Bangor did an excellent job killing off a two-man disadvantage that spanned 1:33 later in the period.

Dickson made it 3-0 with his second of the season following a flurry in front of Plante.

The puck deflected back to him at the midpoint and his snap shot through a passel of legs beat Plante.

“The puck was bouncing, so I just took a shot and tried to put it on net to see what would happen,” said Dickson. “I think it got deflected.”

His next goal also came on a shot from the point through traffic off a pass from Sanderson.

“Parker made a real nice pass to me right off the faceoff and I just let a quick, low shot go,” said Dickson.

Sanderson capped the scoring with his team-leading 10th goal of the season by shoving the puck past Plante off assists from Connor Griffin and Carl Farnham.